TONIGHT’S GAME: With just eight games remaining on their schedule, the first-place Houston Astros will welcome in the Atlanta Braves for their final home series of the 2026 regular season.
RHP Hayden Wesneski (5-2, 3.70 ERA) will make his penultimate start of the season for the Astros tonight opposite RHP Grant Holmes (9-5, 3.49 ERA) and the Braves.
THE POSTSEASON CHASE: The Astros and Rangers are locked in a tight race down the stretch for the AL West with the two teams entering play today deadlocked at 77-77. The Astros own the tiebreaker over the Rangers with a season series victory (9-4 record).
AL WEST NEXT GAME
1. Houston: 77-77 vs. ATL (90-64)
2. Texas: 77-77 vs. TOR (76-78)
3. Seattle: 72-82 5.0 GB at COL (56-98)
GOIN’ DEEP
The Astros have hit 206 homers as a team this year and have hit 200-plus homers in a single season for the 10th time in franchise history (last, 222 HR in 2023)…the Astros rank second in the AL in home runs this season behind only the Yankees (209).
THE FIREMAN
LHP Josh Hader has converted 26 consecutive save opportunities to open his season, which is the Astros club record…should Hader finish the season without a blown save, he would become the seventh pitcher in MLB history to post 26-plus saves without a blown save and the first to do so since RHP Ken Giles in 2018 (26 SV).
Roster Moves
The Houston Astros have reinstated OF/IF Brice Mathews from the injured list and have designated OF Jorge Barrosa for assignment.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, September 19, 6:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: SCHN, SCHN2 (Spanish), Peacock (subject to blackout)
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish), ESPN Radio (subject to blackout)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Robert Gasser #54 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 19, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Robert Gasser and Trevor Rogers matched each other blow for blow in a good old-fashioned pitcher’s duel, but the Brewers won on an RBI groundout from Gary Sánchez in the second inning. With today’s win — the first 1-0 win of the season for the Brewers — they have tied their franchise record with 97 wins and have seven games remaining to break it.
With one out in the top of the second, Joey Ortiz hit what should have been a can of corn for Orioles right fielder Rece Hinds, but Hinds lost the ball in the sun and couldn’t make the catch. The ball rolled all the way to the wall, and Ortiz, hauling it around the bases, dove safely into third with what broadcaster Brian Anderson called a “sun-triple.” The next batter, Sánchez, hit a chopper to third that scored Ortiz without a throw, giving the Brewers a quick 1-0 lead.
A misplay here by Orioles right fielder Rece Hinds results in a triple for the Brewers' Joey Ortiz in the 2nd inning: pic.twitter.com/o8N8yDmNUc
That would be all the run support the Brewers would need, as starter Robert Gasser was dealing. Since being pulled in the middle of an at-bat in late August, he’s been great, but today was probably his best performance of the season. Gasser allowed just two hits through six innings, a leadoff single in the first and a double off the bat of Gunnar Henderson in the second. He didn’t rack up strikeouts, but he kept Baltimore’s hitters off balance and off base all afternoon.
Gasser finally got into trouble in the sixth after walking Leody Tavares and hitting Pete Alonso, then walking Coby Mayo to load the bases with only one out. With cleanup hitter Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who hit the sacrifice fly that sent yesterday’s game to extra innings, coming to the plate, it looked like the Orioles would at least tie the game. Gasser had other plans, getting Encarnacion-Strand to roll over a cutter for an inning-ending double play.
Gasser came back out for the seventh inning, almost certainly because the Brewers’ bullpen has been overworked. Kyle Harrison and Dustin May, the Brewers’ previous two starters, combined for just four innings, forcing the bullpen to cover a lot of ground over the last two days. Gasser was beginning to look tired, but Murphy left him in to face the dangerous Gunnar Henderson, who popped out for the first out.
Up next for Baltimore was Hinds (.476 OPS entering today), who worked a seven-pitch at-bat that he punctuated by smoking a double into left field. Conventional wisdom would say this was the time to pull Gasser, but Murphy again showed faith in his starting pitcher, and his faith was rewarded. Gasser got both Christian Franklin and Samuel Basallo to pop up, stranding Hinds at second and keeping the Brewers’ lead intact.
Gasser’s final line: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K. Gutsy performance from the left-hander, who stepped up just when the Brewers needed it.
Robert Gasser goes 7 shutout innings against the Baltimore Orioles.
In his last 5 outings (including his emergency relief appearance in New York) he hasn’t allowed more than 2 ER in a game. pic.twitter.com/x8vXhrbfHp
While Gasser was blanking the Orioles, Baltimore starter Trevor Rogers matched him pitch-for-pitch. Rogers went eight innings, allowed just three hits himself, and struck out nine. Other than the Ortiz triple, the Brewers couldn’t really get anything going on offense, but it ultimately wouldn’t matter. Abner Uribe worked around a leadoff single in the eighth to keep Baltimore scoreless, and Aaron Ashby pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to give the Brewers the series victory.
With today’s 97th win, this Brewers team has tied the franchise record for wins in a season, which they set last year. They’ll need to go 3-4 over their final seven games to finish with 100 wins for the first time in franchise history. Jacob Misiorowski will go in tomorrow’s season finale opposite Brandon Young (9-4, 3.65 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:20 p.m. on Peacock’s Sunday Night Baseball.
PHOENIX — Without any guarantees of it happening, Aaron Judge is holding out hope of returning from a calf strain in time for the playoffs.
“I’d like to be back by the postseason; that’s definitely the plan,” Judge said Saturday afternoon. “We’re going to do everything we can to get back as soon as we can.”
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That was a slightly less definitive statement than what Judge consistently said during the summer when he was trying to come back from a right rib stress fracture, which he did after three-plus months on Sept. 8.
But now the clock is ticking even louder, with Saturday marking 10 days away from Game 1 of the American League wild card series.
“Definitely frustrated,” said Judge, who played seven games after missing 84 on the IL with the rib injury. “Dealt with strains before and kind of played through them, but this was in a different spot where it made it a little bit more difficult.”
New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge stands in the dugout during the fifth inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. Getty Images
Judge did not reveal what grade the strain was, but said it involved his Soleus muscle, which he indicated was more important to running and hitting compared to the gastrocnemius muscle.
“The focus is still the same, to be ready to go for October,” Judge said.
In the meantime, the Yankees are banking on their summer without Judge paying off now that he is back on the IL.
“Lean on each other,” Cody Bellinger said. “The game itself is hard; if you add too much pressure on yourself, the game becomes even harder. So we really just have to play for each other, lean on each other, pass the baton, do your job and control what you can control.”
The Yankees did that on Friday night, racing out of the gates to score five runs in the first inning of a 9-2 win against the Diamondbacks, just hours after the team announced Judge was going on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain.
But they also got off well at the beginning of June after Judge landed on the IL with a right rib stress fracture before their lineup became a black hole for an extended stretch during the summer. They had finally started to break out of it shortly before Judge got back on Sept. 8, but after having him back for seven games, they now find themselves in the same spot again, less than two weeks away from the start of the playoffs.
“We’ve played most of the year this way, and I feel like in a lot of cases, especially some of our key guys over the last few weeks have started to, especially offensively, get it going like we know they’re capable of,” manager Aaron Boone said.
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) rounds the bases on his three-run home run during the eighth inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field, Monday, September 14, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg for New York Post
During the 84-game span that Judge missed this summer, the Yankees ranked 26th in runs per game (4.06), 29th in batting average (.227), 27th in OPS (.681), and 29th in WRC+ (90).
But over the tail end of that stretch, and into Judge’s return, the Yankees started to hit more like they are capable of. That included the trade deadline addition of Luis García Jr., the emergence of rookie outfielder Spencer Jones, and Bellinger getting back on track after returning from his own hamstring injury in August.
Perhaps most importantly, it has coincided with the reemergence of Ben Rice. The lefty slugger was a game wrecker for the first two months of the season before Judge went down, then cooled off a bit during the summer (albeit with some good stretches along the way) before catching fire again over the last few weeks. Entering Saturday, over his last 22 games, Rice had hit .353 with a 1.037 OPS and five home runs, including his 39th of the season Friday night.
“Special year,” Gerrit Cole said. “Has made some really good adjustments from previous years, going into this year, and I think he’s really started to heat back up here the last few weeks after having to make some adjustments in the middle of the season. Not only is he really proficient with the bat, but he’s a smart player and a hard worker, which is leading him to have a really outstanding season for us.”
The Yankees need that to continue for however long Judge is out (and even if and when he returns) for them to play deep into October, though Rice isn’t looking at it as having to do any more — which got some hitters in trouble during the three-time AL MVP’s first absence.
“I would think that everyone just goes out there and stays within themselves, tries to put together quality at-bat after quality at-bat,” he said. “Pitching is always going to be doing their thing, like they have for us all year. So from an offensive standpoint, just do what we did [Friday]: go out and have a team at-bat, trust the guy behind you and keep the line moving.”
To Rice’s point, the Yankees have leaned on the strength of their pitching staff all season, but that was especially the case during Judge’s three months on the IL this summer, when they were able to scratch out enough wins in low-scoring games, with their pitchers keeping them in it almost every night.
“We have a lot of confidence in here,” Cole said. “For the most part of the summer, we’ve been tested really, really hard and we responded, by and large, really, really well. We have a lot of perfectionists in here. We’re always striving to be perfect and trying to be the best. But the reality is we’ve had a lot of obstacles we’ve had to overcome and, by and large, we’ve played really well.”
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 18: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with Matt Olson #28 after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Friday, September 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kairi Mano/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
An important contest for the relatively-normal NL East and the crab bucket that is the AL West begins at 7:10 pm ET. Whether you’re on the SB Nation app (avail on iOS or Android) or are cracking open your web browser to join us, thanks for being a part of the game thread <3
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 09: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche is recorded by TNT during the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following a spirited day one of training camp when the 2026-27 Colorado Avalanche held their first official on-ice team activity, the squad was back after it on day two and three. Every training camp day follows the same basic schedule with the roster of 56 players (minus the injured folks) split into two groups with a mix of NHL regulars, AHL contracts, young prospects and Avalanche hopefuls. Each session lasts close to 90 minutes with a lunch break in between. The structure of the practice is a third for warm up drills, a third for controlled 5v5 and then the last third is some small area work around the net.
There was a focus and purpose in executing the drills Jared Bednar laid out for the players. Many returnees are already familiar with the system but the reality is a preseason game is just days away and they must prepare for it.
The groups were switched for this session and the Group 2 roster was on the ice in the morning. This collection is more of the depth players and they bring a bit more physicality. Zach L’Heureux has consistently shown he has a different energy and approach to the game. Fabian Lysell had a few more aggressive moments than he did on the first day. Jaden Schwartz also showed he can make some skillful plays.
Cale Makar joined the first group again in the red non-contact jersey as part of his rehab on the lower-body injury he suffered. The superstar defenseman did stay out longer than he did the previous day and looked good completing drills, he should be back to full-go soon.
Zachary L'Heureux has a very good shift in this 5v5 drill. Lots of discipline. He attacks below the net to put the pressure on and then heads straight to the front of the net. 🙌 #Avs#GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/sSujIbwOfy
It was a surprise that to conclude the practices on this day there still was a mandatory skate which consisted of a few heats of speed skating style figure-eights and then the traditional mountain. There are new rules in the CBA about fitness testing and conditioning in training camp but perhaps there are certain parameters where it’s still accepted.
Saturday Skate
To conclude the official camp portion of the new season’s preparations, a smaller group of Avalanche players gathered. Taylor Makar, Nikita Prishchepov, Alex Gagne and Ilya Nabokov were given the day off as they are expected to participate in both of the upcoming back-to-back preseason contests.
With Trent Miner injured and not even taking shots in his rehab sessions yet, one name to watch has been goaltender Nikita Novosyolov. Ever since development camp he’s been consistently solid and showing improvement. He’s going to see a fair bit of AHL action with the Colorado Eagles if he keeps this up.
Nikita Novosyolov, who signed an ELC this summer, has been look great during camp. Over the last couple of weeks he has been working closing the 5-hole and squaring to the puck. #Avs#GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/m1tuKaNidN
Cale Makar didn’t skate as it was a scheduled day off for him. The goal is for him to keep skating and get in a game at the end of the week. Speaking of, how the Avalanche manage their two sets of back-to-back games this week will be interesting as new CBA rules prevent anyone with 100 games of NHL experience cannot play in more than two preseason games. This impacts even a guy like Fedor Svechkov who is over the threshold. Bednar also indicated the Avalanche regulars would more likely play at home, which includes Sunday’s home game against the Utah Mammoth at 5:00 p.m. MT.
First Cuts
If that wasn’t enough news to digest, the Avalanche announced their first wave of cuts, trimming the training camp roster by 11 and a reduction of the active players to 45. The AHL contracted Jayson Megna, Yanick Turcotte, Jake Wise Hank Kempf and goaltender Nikita Novosyolov were sent to the Colorado Eagles camp. Also, Shawn Carrier, Teddy Lechner, Ondrej Ruml, Linus Funck, Alexandre Raymond and Tobias Tvrznik were sent back to their junior clubs. This means that Beckett Hamilton is still with the Avalanche and should get in an upcoming preseason game.
The following players have been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) training camp:
Hank Kempf, D Jayson Megna, C Nikita Novosyolov, G Yanick Turcotte, LW Jake Wise, C
Additionally, the following players have been reassigned to their respective junior clubs:
“I’d like to be back by the postseason, so we’ll see," Judge said. “That’s definitely the plan. I got really no answers for you on any timeline or anything like that.’’
Judge, who missed three months with a fractured rib, is eligible to come off the injured list for the regular-season finale on Sept. 27. He injured his calf in his first at-bat Wednesday playing against the Minnesota Twins. The injury is in the soleus muscle of the calf, which makes it difficult to participate in any baseball activities, he said, except throwing to keep his arm in shape.
“Definitely frustrated,’’ Judge, the three-time MVP, said. “I’ve dealt with strains before, and kind of played through them, but this was kind of in a different spot where it made it a little bit more difficult. But definitely frustrated because, you know, the ultimate goal was to try to come back to get a couple of games before the postseason, so it changes it a little bit.’’
While Judge opted to resume playing with the Yankees instead of having a traditional minor-league rehab stint after such a lengthy absence, he isn’t second-guessing his decision, nor for coming out of Wednesday’s game when he first felt his calf strain.
“You know, you feel things every single year,’’ Judge said. “I usually deal with calf stuff all year long, and it usually gets to you, and usually don’t miss any games. So that was kind of the same thing I was feeling.
“I was feeling it. I was working my way back, and then something kind of grabs you at a strange time. So if this would have happened in the rehab game, I would have been probably a little bit more pissed than I was now.
“So, it is what it is.’’
The Yankees, who are in the No. 1 wild-card spot, are expected to host the Boston Red Sox in a best-of-three series beginning Sept. 29 in the wild-card round at Yankee Stadium. The winner would play the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the Division Series.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 13: Jose Quintana #62 of the Colorado Rockies gets a new ball after giving up a walk in the second inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 13, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today, the Colorado Rockies announced the following roster moves:
Reinstated LHP José Quintana from the 60-day IL.
Optioned RHP Gabriel Hughes to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Designated INF Vimael Machín for assignment.
The Rockies announced today the following transactions: – Reinstated LHP Jose Quintana from the 60-day IL. – Optioned RHP Gabriel Hughes to Triple-A Albuquerque. – Designated INF Vimael Machín for assignment.
Quintana will make his 10th start of the season tonight against the…
Quintana had been on the Injured List since May 24 when he left a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was subsequently diagnosed with a left elbow strain.
Prior to his injury, Quintana logged 41.0 innings across nine starts, posting a 5.27 ERA. He will make his 10th start of the season tonight against the Seattle Mariners.
As a corresponding move, rookie RHP Gabriel Hughes (No. 7 PuRP) was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. The former 10th-overall pick has had an up-and-down season, also throwing 41.0 IP for the Rockies across 14 appearances (13 starts) and earning a 6.33 ERA.
Finally, infielder Vimael Machín was designated for assignment. Although he had seen some success with the Isotopes — slashing .288/.367/.438 — Machín had difficulty adjusting to MLB pitching during the three games he played for the Rockies.
KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 07: Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Noah Cameron (65) throws a warm up pitch before a MLB game on September 07, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s the penultimate road game for the Royals on the final weekend of 2026 baseball for the good guys, and they’re still looking for their first series victory in September. If they don’t win today, they’ll have to wait for next week’s homestand against the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians, who are in a dogfight for the AL Central crown, so the odds don’t feel great for figuring it out then.
The bad news for the Royals is that they’ll be facing Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler. The rookie righthander debuted last year for the Pirates but didn’t pitch enough innings or spend enough time on the roster to lose his eligibility. He’s unlikely to win the award while in the same league as Nolan McLean, J.J. Wetherholt, and Carson Benge, but he’s having a more-than-solid campaign all the same.
He ostensibly features a six-pitch mix, but he throws his four-seam fastball nearly half the time. You’ll notice from the graphic above that, generally speaking, he doesn’t get an inordinate amount of chase, and he gets below-average whiffs. But his fastball does get chase and at least gets average whiffs. He also has positive xwOBACons across the board. You’ll also note a lot of orange in the velocity, extension, tjStuff+, and Grade columns, indicating that all of his pitches are nasty and they’re on you fast. It’s not going to be a fun day at the plate for the Royals.
The good news for the Royals is that Noah Cameron is pitching for probably the second-to-last time this year. One of the saddest parts about the end of the 2026 MLB season will be going more than five days without watching him put on a clinic as a pitcher after taking over pitch-calling duties for himself. Fingers crossed we get to really enjoy that today and one final time for this season next week.
Lineups
Jac Caglianone is back in the lineup tonight after getting last night off for seeming disciplinary reasons. Carter Jensen will get a shot to extend his Royals’ records for lead off home runs and rookie home runs. The Royals will bat three lefties in a row from 3-4-5, so I guess that means Matt Quatraro is cured of the curse many seem to believe he is under to create lineups that flip handedness regardless of any other factors?
Sep 3, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Cal Quantrill (44) throws during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Miguel Vargas lets it loose as he celebrates his 33rd homer of the season, giving the White Sox some much-needed breathing room. | (Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
Sean Burke gave the White Sox a chance to win Saturday afternoon. His offense didn’t give him much support, but it gave him just enough.
The righthander came out firing, mowing through the first with a fly out and back-to-back punchouts. The knuckle curve had bite, and he breezed through the first three innings on just 28 pitches.
The Sox gave him a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Miguel Vargas drew a two-out walk and promptly swiped second with Munetaka Murakami at the plate. With the stolen base, Vargas became the first player in franchise history to record at least 30 doubles, 30 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and 100 runs scored. Congratulations to Miggy!
The stolen bag also proved pivotal when Mune dunked a blooper into left field, allowing Vargas to race home. Small ball, but it counts.
It wasn’t exactly a fireworks show, but lately, you take the runs wherever you can find them.
Jackson Jobe was every bit as stingy on the other side. The righty pounded the strike zone, fanned the side in the fourth and made the Sox look lost — except for Colson Montgomery, who at least forced a nine-pitch battle before whiffing — four innings in, still just one lonely hit for Chicago.
Burke encountered his first real bit of trouble in the fourth when Hao-Yu Lee and Riley Greene singled to put runners on first and second with two outs. He escaped with help from Vargas, who made a fantastic play at third on Dillon Dingler’s grounder to end it. Vargas has endured his share of defensive struggles at the hot corner this season, recording -2 Defensive Runs Saved, but that was a gem.
A 28-pitch fifth ended Burke’s efficiency. After plunking Ben Malgeri and allowing a single to Brett Callahan, he walked John Peck to pack the sacks. The breaking pitches that danced early began missing, and Kevin McGonigle lifted a sacrifice fly to left to knot things up. Burke limited the damage by striking out Lee and stranding a pair to end the frame.
The White Sox immediately gave him the lead back. Braden Montgomery ripped a one-out ground-rule double and advanced to third on Brenton Doyle’s single. Sam Antonacci followed with a deep sac fly to left, putting Chicago back in front, 2-1.
Would more runs be nice? Sure. But at this point, you take what you can get and say thank you.
Burke returned for the sixth because, frankly, manager Will Venable didn’t have much choice. The bullpen is taxed, and asking it to nurse a one-run lead for four innings didn’t sound particularly appealing.
That move nearly blew up in his face.
A single and back-to-back two-out walks suddenly loaded the bases for Callahan. Burke spun a 79 mph knuckle curve that Callahan swung at, but the ball squirted away from Teel and Greene slid home with what appeared to be the tying run.
Chicago challenged the call, arguing that the pitch clipped Callahan, making it a dead ball and killing the play. The challenge was successful, sending Greene back to third and keeping the Good Guys in front. Burke finished it himself, snapping off a gorgeous 80 mph curve for the punchout. He roared off the mound, and honestly, who could blame him? The righthander gutted it out, worked through the mess and became the first Sox starter to complete six innings since Aug. 21. Final line: one run, five hits, three walks, five Ks and a quality start.
Miggy gave the South Siders some cushion in the bottom half, blasting the first pitch he saw for a solo home run. The 102 mph rocket was his 33rd homer of the season and extended Chicago’s lead to 3-1. The dinger also kept the White Sox on pace to reach 200 home runs for the first time since 2012
Noah Schultz and Grant Taylor combined to handle the rest. Schultz struck out five over 1 2/3 innings, and Taylor recorded the final four outs, and that’s your ballgame.
Detroit outhit Chicago, 8-4, but went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11. Meanwhile, the White Sox went 2-for-2 with RISP.
Clutch hitting. Who knew?
Burke picked up win No. 10, the first Sox starter to hit double digits since 2022, while Schultz earned his first hold and Taylor got his 10th save.
It wasn’t the prettiest victory, but style points stopped mattering a long time ago. With their postseason hopes hanging in the balance, the White Sox needed a win, and they found a way to get one.
The Guardians are still a half-game up and get the A’s tonight.
Time to scoreboard watch, friends.
MVP Sean Burke: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 K, HBP, W
Runners-Up Miguel Vargas: 1-for-2, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, HR, SB Munetaka Murakami: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K Sam Antonacci: 0-for-3, RBI, SAC Braden Montgomery: 1-for-3, R, 2B Noah Schultz: 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K, HBP, H Grant Taylor: 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, S
Cold Cat Kyle Teel: 0-for-4, 2 K
Runners-Up Andrew Benintendi: 0-for-3, 3 K Colson Montgomery: 0-for-3, 3 K
The Buffalo Sabres played a split squad scrimmage in front of about 3,000 fans at Key Bank Center on Saturday afternoon, giving the club a workout before setting out on their abbreviated preseason in Pittsburgh on Monday. The two sides were divided equally with likely NHLers and players bound for the AHL Rochester Americans, and Team Gold won the three-period scrimmage 3-1, but Team Blue won the shootout 3-2.
Noah Ostlund, Mattias Samuelsson, and Jack Quinn scored for the Gold squad, while Beck Malenstyn scored for the Blue. In the shootout, Tage Thompson, Josh Doan and Owen Power scored for the Blue, while Josh Norris and Rasmus Dahlin tallied for the Gold.
After the game, head coach Lindy Ruff, who watched the game from the press box, said he was happy with the pace of the contest.
Noah Ostlund signs eight-year deal with the Sabres
The scrimmage marked the debut of defenseman Olin Zellweger, who was acquired from Anaheim in June. The 22-year-old was paired with Owen Power and flashed a nice spin move in the second period. The Sabres are hopefully that Zellweger can fill some of the gap created by the departure of Bowen Byram.
"I thought (Olin) closed really well. I think you're looking at guys trying to get used to how we play or want to play and how we close.” Ruff said. “I thought he closed in a lot of plays. I thought offensively , he tried to jump up in that third period where their team needed a goal. He joined on several occasions, where I thought he deferred to maybe a little bit of too much of a fancy play where I thought he probably could have delivered, but a lot to like there for sure.”
The contest also marked the return of Jiri Kulich, who played only 12 games last season due to a blood clot issue. The 22-year-old was able to get back on the ice in July, and the Sabres seem to be easing him back into the lineup, as he has been skating on a fourth-line unit with Sam Carrick and Malenstyn.
"I thought as the game went on, he looked more and more comfortable. Made some good plays, had a couple great chances." Ruff said. "I think there are opportunities. There's a few more plays out there he could have made, but I thought overall he skated really welll (and)he was noticeable.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 11: Adam Macko #71 of the Texas Rangers delivers a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 11, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers have placed Michel Otanez on the 15 day injured list with a viral illness, the team announced today. To take his place on the active roster, the Rangers have recalled lefthanded pitcher Adam Macko.
Otanez was called up yesterday in place of the optioned Robbie Ahlstrom, and hopefully he didn’t give anyone in the clubhouse his virus the one day he was here. Ahlstrom could have been recalled, since he would be replacing a player who is going on the injured list, but apparently the Rangers have seen enough of Ahlstrom in the bigs for now.
Macko was acquired from the Jays for Josh Smith and Josh Stephan at the trade deadline. He has only seven appearances covering 6.2 innings for the Rangers since the trade, and allowed four runs in his previous two major league appearances, the last one of which was eight days ago.
Maybe the Rangers just wanted Macko to get to see his old teammates, and he’ll be sent back down for someone else on Monday.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Bubba Chandler #36 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 13, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Isaac Wasserman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kansas City Royals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, September 19, 2026, 6:40 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates in the middle match of a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals this weekend inside PNC Park.
The Royals are starting Noah Cameron, who is in his second MLB season with the Royals. The left-hander is 9-8 this season with a 3.4 ERA. He is coming off a no-decision in his most recent appearance on September 13 against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Cameron went six innings, giving up four hits and one earned run, but the Kansas City offense could not generate enough. They tied the game 1-1 in the seventh inning, but Boston scored four runs late to escape with a 5-1 win.
The Pirates are handing the ball to Bubba Chandler, who is hoping to continue the winning streak he built in Chicago last week. Chandler has won his last two starts against the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs, but he’s hoping he can match that energy at home against the Royals. In his last start against the Cubs on September 13, he went 5.1 innings, giving up five hits and three runs in a 4-3 victory.
The season is winding down, so Chandler has to make it count to warrant consideration for next year’s rotation.
No one expects the Warriors to be NBA champions next season.
So, will it be a wasted season?
Far from it.
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry looks on during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, Friday, April 10, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Not everything can be judged by whether the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy is hoisted in June.
The Warriors are playing for so much more than a champagne bath. They’re playing for each other. Steve Kerr chose to return as coach because he wanted to finish what he started with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, who won four championships in eight years from 2015-2022, becoming the league’s modern-day dynasty.
They’ve had each other’s backs for 12 years. They’ve been through wars. They’re brothers.
Next season is about two players and a coach who have shown a loyalty to one another that’s uncharacteristic in a league where players jump ship at any signs of distress and coaches are cycled through faster than ephemeral social media trends.
In a world of change, the Warriors stand out.
And they’re still fun as heck.
Curry is still the greatest shooter of all time. He became the oldest point guard last season to be named an All-Star starter.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, left, and Draymond Green (23) stand during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona, April 17, 2026. The Suns defeated the Warriors 111-96. Getty Images
Green remains a thrilling and fiery force on the defensive end, the embodiment of a player who transformed himself from being overlooked into a Hall of Famer through sheer heart and grit.
Kerr is still one of the sharpest minds in the sport, as well as a fearless leader on and off the court.
Are they the edge-of-your-seat show they once were? No. But are they still fascinating? Yes.
There are a lot of questions.
Can they make a move before the trade deadline to become competitive? Can Curry remain the most jaw-dropping player in the league as he turns 39? Can Jimmy Butler return from injury and provide the kind of jolt he did back in February 2025, when the Warriors finished the season with a 23-8 record after trading for him?
The Warriors still have their spark, even though they haven’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs since winning their last championship in 2022.
We were reminded of that last season.
Facing elimination in a play-in game against the Clippers in April, Curry and Green tapped into their greatness, channelling what made them the best in the world at their jobs for nearly a decade.
Curry had 35 points, scoring 27 of them in a dizzying second-half scoring spree. Green held Kawhi Leonard to two points in the fourth quarter. It was a vintage performance. It was magical.
Those guys still have that inside of them.
After that game, Kerr was beaming. His joy was palpable. His words were shiver-inducing.
“For one night, we’re us,” Kerr said. “We’re champions again.”
The Warriors are searching for that feeling again.
It might not lead to a first-place finish, not in a league with teams with young legs and deep rosters chomping at the bit.
But they’ll still have those small moments.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reacts during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. Getty Images
You know, the times when Curry goes unconscious from the court, leaving Green genuinely smiling and Kerr trying to find the right adjectives to describe the beauty he just witnessed in his postgame news conference.
Or when Green makes a defensive stop and roars, the type of scene that has happened so many times and led to him being called the unequivocal soul of the team.
Or when Kerr knows exactly what Curry or Green needs to be told in a specific moment, showcasing his rare and piercing ability to connect with people that has turned him into one of the greatest coaches in NBA history.
Kerr, Curry and Green are playing for something different now. Their success isn’t going to be measured by wins and losses.
It will be measured by the magnitude of playing for something greater than themselves. By the camaraderie generated over 12 seasons of fighting alongside one another. By the genuine joy that comes from seeing each other shine. By unparalleled loyalty. By the dignity of standing together as their dynasty fades.
The Warriors may not be one of the elite teams in the league.
But they’re still one of the greatest shows out there.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 01: BJ Murray Jr. #83 of the Chicago Cubs hits a single, his first MLB hit, against the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field on September 01, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Iowa activated right-hander Tyler Santana from the Development list and placed right-hander Grant Kipp on it.
Strong start for Andrew Wentz, who got the win after going five innings and giving up just one run on three hits. He walked two and struck out four.
Gavin Hollowell pitched 1.1 innings in a rehab appearance. Hollowell faced five batters and struck out four of them. He walked the other one.
Jaxon Wiggins relieved Hollowell with one on and one out in the ninth. He threw one pitch and got a game-ending double play.
The I-Cubs scored four runs in the first inning and never trailed afterwards. Left fielder Chas McCormick hit a two-run double in the first and later in the inning scored on a ground out. McCormick went 3 for 5 with the double.
DH BJ Murray hit a two-run single in the fourth inning. Murray went 2 for 5 and also scored on McCormick’s double in the first inning.
Shortstop Owen Miller was 2 for 5 and also scored on McCormick’s double.
First baseman Owen Ayers was 1 for 3 with two walks.
McCormick’s double went high off the center field wall.
